Idaho & Montana! - August 2019

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Part Two of our big summer adventure

Back On The Farm

Oregon passed by just out our windows as we drove toward Idaho. Driving gave us the opportunity to practice our Montana sign language skills just as Muir Trek taught us. When vehicles in rural Montana meet on two lane roads, the drivers communicate with each other by lifting a number of fingers on the hand gripping the top of the steering wheel. One finger up translates to a simple, "Hello." Two fingers raised and it becomes, "How you doing?" Three fingers raised and it is, "How's the wife and family?" Four fingers means, "Stop and let's talk." We wanted to be ready when we entered Montana and wow the inhabitants with our confident communication skills.

Our friends - the new Montanans - spread is in the Stevensville area south of Missoula. Our favorite route through Idaho is up highway 12 along the Clearwater and Lochsa Rivers and into Montana at Lolo Pass. It is scenic and each trip allows us a bit more exploration of this wonderful area. We wanted to get up the corridor as far as possible so we could visit two special spots before dropping into Montana's Bitterroot Valley the next day. Our overnight stop was the O'Hara Campground along the Selway River. For an overnight, it was pleasant.

We set off early the next morning as we wanted ample time for a couple of hikes. Our first stop was a hard to find small turnout and trailhead. The trail led up the steep gradient of a small tributary to the Lochsa. We found the hot spring pool vacant with no one around. It became our special little bit of paradise. The hot spring water flowed down from the source into a pool built into the smooth granite perched above the creek.

The water was oh so just right.

Our next trailhead was well marked.

An incredibly well built suspension bridge spanned the Lochsa River.

The well worn trail led us up Warm Springs Creek. This is a well known and popular location, as it should be. This is a special spot.

The first pool was down a very steep trail and captured water from a spring flowing down the cliff face.

Another hiker on the trail called it a "private pool" and said there were people using it that could use a bit of privacy. I used the magic of photoshop on the above photo to give them privacy.

The main hot pool was along a flow of hot spring water just above the creek. 

The hot water flowed into Warm Springs Creek and various small warm pools were created that allow alternate dips between warm and cold water.

This is a pretty neat and beautiful spot.

Our topo showed another hot spring a bit further on and that is where we found the Minnesota Girls. They were nice and happy women. The Lady complimented their cute swim suits as they asked if I would take photos of them in the hot spring with their phones. The girl in pink explained, "It's our girl friend's suit. We are out from Minnesota visiting her and as soon as I saw the suit I had to borrow it for today. She's working today. We're exploring!"

I took several photos for them and asked them to check my work so we could retake as needed.

"You two sure scored on having this pool to yourselves," the Lady added. "This is the nicest one!"

They were so sweet and invited us to join them. We thanked them and said maybe, after we explored the area a bit more.

There was one smaller hot pool further on. We returned to the Minnesota Girls and I asked permission of a photo for us.

We were starting to feel like protective grandparents but knew these two could handle themselves. We shared travel stories, Midwest stories, other hot springs visited stories, and I had to ask, since they were from Minnesota, did they know our friend, takesiteasy? "We know lots of guys who take it easy, some even way too easy, but not the one and only takesiteasy you ask about."

As we parted, the Lady asked, "Where you off to next on your way home?"

"Mount Rushmore!"

With two wonderful hot spring adventures behind us, we entered Montana. Arriving back at Muir Trek and Outdoor Woman's farm is like coming back home. These two are simply the best.

If you recall from our previous visits, we show up to work and help out with chores and projects. The first chore was heading to the mountains to pick huckleberries. We could do that.

The new addition to the farm was "The Girls."

"What are their names?" the Lady asked.

"I don't name something I'm going to eat someday," Outdoor Woman explained. "When one stops laying eggs, it's dinner."

We toured the Mennonite built chicken palace - there is an local community of Mennonites with excellent farm/ranch/building skills. The Girls are free range during the day on the spread. They follow Outdoor Woman around like she is their mom.

We tackled several projects. The Lady helped Outdoor Woman with scraping and repainting porch posts on the rental house. I helped Muir Trek with a couple of maintenance and repair issues on his small Kubota tractor and mower. With the little tractor up and running, we hauled out log chains and chain saw to the edge of the property and started in on clearing up downed trees - until a woman named "Cat" got in the way.

Muir Trek and Outdoor Woman recently moved up items from their prior home in California. This resulted in a large pile of packing boxes, padding, and other supplies someone else could now use. Outdoor Woman had an ad up on Craigslist - free, come get it. Pay it forward.

Muir Trek was handling the phone calls. "Cat" was on her way and was having difficulties with directions, and to be kind, life in general. Fill up the chain saw with bar oil and the phone rang. More directions were given.

"I don't think she is writing anything down," Muir Trek said and rolled his eyes.

"Can she read and write?" I asked. I'm not near as kind as Muir Trek.

Fill up the chain saw with gas and the phone rang.

"There is no Ambrose Lane!" Cat yelled. Muir Trek patiently explained that there is a large sign on the main highway that clearly reads, "Ambrose Lane."

Just get ready to start up the tractor to move the tree and the phone rang.

"Okay, there is no Ambrose Lane," Muir Trek calmly said. "Where are you now?"

"I'm in the parking lot of the Burnt Fork Market," the voice on the phone answered, sounding irritated Muir Trek didn't already know that.

"Stay right there!" Muir Trek countered. "We are bringing everything to you. Stay there!"

The look on Muir Trek's face was priceless. "Will you help me?" he asked me. "We're driving into town after loading everything up and getting this over with."

"I wouldn't miss this for the world," I answered with a smile.

In route to town, the phone rang. Cat's voice asked, "Where are you? When will you be here?"

Muir Trek calmly answered, "We are driving down Ambrose Lane. We are about ten minutes driving time from your location. Stay there and what are you driving?"

"A Prius with a flower on it." Cat answered.

Muir Trek looked over at me after ending the call and asked, "What do you think this woman looks like?"

I answered, "Five bucks says it is exactly the same picture you have in your head."

The Prius with a flower on it was easy to spot in the parking lot of the Burnt Fork Market in Stevensville, Montana.

"I'm getting kicked out of my apartment and I have to move!" was the first thing Cat said to us after Muir Trek tapped on the driver's side window and jolted her away from the screen on her phone.

I tried to put myself into her shoes. I'm getting kicked out of my apartment. I need to pack up and move all my belongings. I'm driving 45 minutes one way to pick up a large stack of boxes and padding a kind soul is giving away free to help others. Would I show up with a Prius three quarter filled with useless personal items? No.

Muir Trek and I started moving much much faster than Cat could move. No way she could get in our way. It was absolutely amazing how many boxes two motivated men could stuff into a Prius. And how fast they could do it.

I wouldn't have missed it for the world and we wish Cat the best of luck.

Even with the interruptions, we got much accomplished project wise. Outdoor Woman was putting together another wonderful dinner for us.

"Where's Muir Trek," she asked.

"He's down at the far end of the hay field sitting in Dawn's new tractor, that beautiful New Holland! Do you want me to go get him?" I offered.

If you'll remember from past visits, Dawn is the woman who leases their fields for hay production. Dawn is the hardest working woman in Montana. She deserves a new tractor.

"No! You stay right here." Outdoor Woman said to me then turned to the Lady. "Julie, will you please go get Muir Trek to get cleaned up for dinner?"

She turned back to me. "If you go, you'll just climb up in the tractor with him and one of us would have to get both of you."

Dinner was out on the deck that night. The cool of the evening settled in around us. The Girls were back in their chicken palace. We were having salmon. The last of the afternoon thunderstorm was clearing. The air was fresh.

Earlier in the day our friends asked us if we'd like to play bingo. The community was raising money for a senior center. A monthly bingo game at the fire house was one of the fund raisers.

We had never played bingo before. We had no idea what to expect. This was like stepping onto foreign soil. We learned there are people who are really serious about their bingo.

We each paid for three bingo cards. Some players had six or more. Those were the ones that never smiled. I sat next to Muir Trek and he oversaw my plays and helped. Outdoor Woman did the same for the Lady.

During the first game I heard Outdoor Woman whisper to the Lady, "You have it there!" and pointed.

"That's a bingo? Should I say bingo?"

The Lady won the first game. A nice woman handed her money.

The second game was something called "postage stamps" where you fill two non adjoining squares on a card. Keeping track of three separate cards is work but it looked right after a number was called and I called out, "I believe I have it!"

"Say Bingo!" my unsmiling neighbor to my right with six cards pointedly directed. A nice woman gave me money.

The evening continued like that. Bingo! was the Lady's and my new middle names. Murmurs started in the back of the room.

"Tell those two to never come back."

"They better come back so we can get a crack at getting our money back."

A nice woman kept giving us money.

The last game was called black out. All the spots on a card need to be filled. An extra pot of $75 was added if you succeeded in filling a card in the first 59 number draws. I passed a note to the Lady, "If either of us win the big pot, quickly announce we are donating it all to the senior center building fund or we won't get out of here alive."

There is a bit of exaggeration in the bingo story. All these Montana locals were indeed very nice people. I've taken a bit of liberty with some of the details, but not about the winning and the need to donate the big pot.

Our time in Montana with our friends was over far too soon. The farm could easily become a second home. I think it has. The proprietors are some of the best people we'll ever know. This place is a little slice of heaven.

With huckleberries and farm fresh eggs, we left the next morning for Wyoming. 

Our big summer adventure story continues here -

Green River, Bridger Wilderness Wyoming - August 2019